radicalducati Chapter 29 The Raikage's Resolve, Unexpected A-Rank Mission
Chapter 29 The Raikage's Resolve, Unexpected A-Rank Mission
Abandoned houses outside the town of Shoumu Yokota.
"This is the secret ninjutsu passed down through generations of Sugi no Ninja. Fortunately, with the support of the Raikage and others, I was able to escape unharmed!" Upon seeing the long-awaited Fourth Raikage, the Cloud Village Jonin immediately took out the scroll and respectfully handed it over.
Anxious and impatient, the Fourth Raikage took the scroll without even glancing at it, shoved it into his robes, and called out in a deep voice, "Amai, come with me quickly..."
"What happened?" Seeing her Raikage's grim face and hurried demeanor, Amai of Kumogakure immediately sensed something was wrong and followed after him.
As soon as he entered the dilapidated house, he saw his companion Karai lying on the stone slab in agony, along with the grotesque lumps filling his chest and abdomen.
"Karai." Seeing this, Amai didn't need Lei Ying's orders and immediately stepped forward to provide emergency treatment.
However, as she used her palm magic to understand the situation and received explanations from Raikage, Amai's mood quickly plummeted.
"This is a worm-shaped mass filled with explosive chakra. It's growing rapidly by continuously absorbing Karai's chakra like a parasite, and then it'll explode at some point! I'm sorry, Raikage-sama. I'm truly helpless against this..."
"Even you can't do anything?" The Fourth Raikage's eyes were filled with tears as he looked at the ashamed Amai, his fists clenched tightly.
Of course, he wasn't angry because of Amai's incompetence. Rather, he felt ashamed of his inability to cure his subordinates!
What kind of Raikage is he?!
“Um, Raikage-sama.” Seeing the Raikage’s expression, Amai suddenly remembered something and a hint of joy appeared on her face. “Although I can’t save Karai, that person in town definitely can. She’s Tsunade-sama, known as the medical saint. If it’s her, there’s definitely no problem.”
"Tsunade, one of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha? She's in this town??" The Fourth Raikage's expression changed, his face filled with a mixture of surprise and joy, as if he had grasped a lifeline.
"How naive you are, Raikage-sama! And Amai, I will not allow you to address a foreign ninja as 'sama'. I may die, but the name of the Raikage of Kumogakure cannot be tarnished by others..." Suddenly, Karai, who was already half-conscious, shouted with a look of defiance.
The dignity of the shadow must not be desecrated.
To have the Raikage beg the legendary Sannin of Konoha, who were once ninjas from an enemy country, in order to save his own life would be a huge blow to the reputation of Kumogakure.
Even if he were cured, he wouldn't have the face to stay in Kumogakure any longer. He'd rather die now! That way, his respected Raikage wouldn't have to lose his dignity as a Kage and could uphold the honor of Kumogakure.
"What kind of dignity does a Kage have if he stands by and watches his subordinates die? What kind of Raikage am I?!" Seeing Karai's resolute expression, the Fourth Raikage blurted out without thinking.
"Lord Raikage, you..."
"Don't worry, I'll save your life! I'll also uphold the dignity of a Kage. Amai, let's go find Tsunade." Interrupting Karai once again, the Fourth Raikage's eyes flashed with determination as he punched through the wall and shouted, urging them on.
"Yes, Lord Raikage." Amai nodded vigorously and immediately stepped forward to lead the way.
Two figures moved with lightning speed, disappearing into the night in the blink of an eye...
Meanwhile, at the town mayor's residence.
"Kakashi-sensei, do you know that woman called Fatty Sheep?" Seeing Kakashi's rare expression of surprise, Taro scratched his head and asked nervously.
If they knew each other, whether they could keep their money was another matter! This is terrible, his ten thousand taels...
"Yes, it should be someone I know." Kakashi nodded, suppressing his excitement, and eagerly pressed for more information. "Do you know where she is now?"
Compared to Tsunade's whereabouts, that C-rank mission is insignificant. It doesn't matter if it takes a few more days!
"When they came back, I think I saw them go into an izakaya (Japanese pub). Teacher, do you want to go look for her?"
"An izakaya?" Kakashi's face lit up with joy upon hearing Ishikawa's answer, and he immediately took out a blank scroll and laid it flat on top of the money box.
Under the astonished gazes of Ishikawa and the others, Kakashi's hands moved like butterflies, swiftly completing hand seals, "Seal..."
The three of them saw a black sealing technique erupt from Kakashi's palm, enveloping the box. Then, with a bang, the money box turned into white smoke, which was carried back by the technique and imprinted on the blank scroll, forming a sealing technique for the character "物" (object).
"This is a storage sealing technique, which can seal away some items or weapons that you are carrying." Kakashi explained casually, seeing the three people's surprised looks, and quickly tied up the scroll and stuffed it into his pocket.
"I'll hold onto this money for you first. Now, let's go to the izakaya to find that gentleman."
"Looking for someone? We're not going on a mission tonight??" Ishikawa asked in surprise, not expecting Kakashi to be so impatient that he wouldn't even do the mission!
"If you're willing to give up the record and reward of an A-rank mission for that C-rank mission, continuing the bandit suppression isn't out of the question." Kakashi shrugged casually, then gave the three of them a teasing look.
How can a C-rank mission be compared to the whereabouts of Tsunade, one of the Legendary Sannin?! There's no need to even consider it…
"A-level mission!!"
"No way, we can actually carry out super dangerous A-level missions??"
Taro and Jiro were both dumbfounded, somewhat unable to grasp this sudden surprise.
A-level missions offer rewards in the tens of thousands, which is something everyone would want; even if it's just bragging, it's a very prestigious title.
But A-rank missions are missions that only Jonin or Chunin teams can carry out. Isn't that too dangerous for them?
"Don't worry, this A-rank mission is completely risk-free. To be honest, you guys are really lucky!" Kakashi explained again with a smile, as finding Tsunade and Jiraiya was a rare A-rank mission in Konoha that was without any danger.
Unexpectedly, the three of them bumped into each other on their first trip outside the village, so this reward was practically free.
Thinking that Konoha might re-establish contact with Tsunade, or even persuade her to return to the village, Kakashi didn't dare to delay and immediately told the three of them to pack their things and leave.
"Teacher, can you tell us who she is? Why is finding her considered an A-level mission?" Ishikawa asked casually as he walked down the street in the small town.
This was a legitimate opportunity to obtain information about Tsunade, so he naturally couldn't miss it.
As Ishikawa spoke, his two underlings looked at Kakashi with curiosity, waiting for his answer.
“That person!” Kakashi paused, looking up at the gloomy night sky where the moon was nowhere to be seen, his eyes filled with a sigh. “If it really is that person, then she is the legendary ninja of Konoha, the legendary Sannin of Konoha who resounded throughout the ninja world during the Second Shinobi World War, the one known as the Medical Saint, Lady Tsunade…”
"The legendary Sannin, the medical genius, Lady Tsunade??" Upon hearing this rather intimidating title, Taro swallowed hard and murmured in agreement.
"Kakashi-sensei, is she even stronger than you?" Jiro asked eagerly. He didn't know what the legend was, so he could only use his teacher Kakashi as a reference.
After all, according to his older brother Ishikawa, their teacher Kakashi was a legendary figure whose name resounded throughout the world!
"Me?" Kakashi was taken aback, then gave a wry smile. "Compared to Lady Tsunade, the difference between us is like the difference between you and me."
"What??"
"No way……"
The two underlings exclaimed in astonishment again, completely unable to believe the difference in strength. Although they had never truly grasped Kakashi's power, they could easily defeat him.
Is that unlucky woman who loves gambling really that powerful?
[You're too modest, teacher. You're the famous Kakashi Kakashi, even if there's a gap, it's not as big as ours!] Ishikawa thought to himself, then reached out his hand.
"Teacher, that izakaya is just around the corner..."